The Invasion Of The New World Order (nWo) In WWE

The New World Order (nWo) is arguably the most legendary and impactful stable in professional wrestling history. Their invasion of WWE in 2002 was a much-hyped occurrence that got people excited. It’s worth mentioning, though, that this invasion was distinct from the previous WCW/ECW Invasion angle that occurred in 2001. Let’s explore the nWo’s WWE stint and its effects on the world of wrestling.

Origins of the nWo

It is imperative to know the nWo’s genesis prior to delving into the nWo’s invasion of WWE. The nWo emerged in 1996 in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), WWE’s premier competitor then. The stable initially was “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash. The gimmick for them was an outlaw faction of wrestlers wanting to “take over” and dominate WCW as a street gang.

The nWo soon became one of the primary movers of WCW’s success during the late 1990s, assisting the company in competing with WWE during the notorious “Monday Night Wars.” The popularity and impact of the stable were unquestionable, giving rise to numerous imitations and parodies across the world of wrestling.

The Path to WWE

Following the acquisition of WCW by WWE in 2001, fans longed for the arrival of nWo in WWE. The core members of the group, however, namely Hogan, Hall, and Nash, did not sign with the company immediately. Rather, WWE promoted an invasion angle involving other ECW and WCW wrestlers through the year 2001.

It wasn’t until the beginning of 2002 that the nWo’s WWE debut was set. Vince McMahon, threatened by the success of babyface superstars such as The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, chose to introduce the nWo as a “poison” to destroy his own creation.

The Invasion Starts

The nWo’s invasion of WWE officially commenced at the No Way Out pay-per-view in February 2002. Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash returned to WWE in a stunning move, immediately focusing on The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. This laid the groundwork for a series of high-profile bouts and encounters.

The arrival of the group in WWE was greeted with divided opinions. While most fans were eager to witness the legendary stable in WWE, others were uncertain about how the veteran wrestlers would be received in the company’s environment. Nevertheless, the presence of nWo brought a new dimension of intrigue to WWE programming.

Key Moments and Matches

During their stay in WWE, the nWo were part of some classic moments and bouts:

Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock at WrestleMania X: This memorable match had Hogan, who was playing a heel, receive a huge reception from the crowd in Toronto. The favorable response resulted in Hogan turning babyface and ultimately divorcing himself from the nWo.

Scott Hall vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin: Their rivalry led to a bout at WrestleMania X8, when Austin defeated Hall.

Kevin Nash’s Role: Nash was out with an injury for most of the nWo’s first run but resumed and aligned with Shawn Michaels later in the year.

X-Pac’s Addition: Sean Waltman, known as X-Pac, joined the nWo in WWE, reuniting with his former stablemates.

Impact and Legacy

The nWo’s WWE stint, though comparatively brief, left a huge impact on the company and the sport of wrestling as a whole. Some of the major points to keep in mind are:

Nostalgia Factor: The nWo’s return to WWE enabled fans to experience the thrill of the Monday Night Wars period.

Star Power: Hogan, Hall, and Nash were still huge attractions despite their age and generated more coverage for WWE programming.

Impact on Younger Talent: The presence of nWo created avenues for younger talent to work alongside and learn from these veterans of the industry.

Merchandise Sales: The black and white nWo t-shirts became popular again, making merchandise sales hot items again for WWE.

Storytelling Opportunities: The nWo’s invasion opened up new storyline opportunities and new match-ups for WWE creative to pursue.

Challenges and Criticisms

Although the nWo’s stint in WWE was a success, it also encountered a number of challenges and criticisms:

Age and Physical Condition: Most fans and critics noted that the members of nWo were well beyond their prime, raising questions about match quality.

Overexposure: Others felt that the nWo idea had been done too much in WCW and that bringing it to WWE would be redundant.

Booking Problems: The nWo’s WWE stint was marred by poor booking, with the faction tending to be less menacing than their WCW equivalent.

Short Duration: The initial nWo roster in WWE was short-lived, with Hogan going face and Hall being let go from his contract within months of their arrival.

Legacy and Hall of Fame Induction

Despite the struggles of their stint in WWE, the nWo’s general contribution to professional wrestling cannot be questioned. As an appreciation of their contribution to the sport, WWE in December 2019 revealed that the nWo would be joining the WWE Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2020.

The inductees are Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Sean Waltman, recognizing the original group that made the nWo so groundbreaking in wrestling. Unfortunately, Scott Hall died on March 14, 2022, at the age of 63, giving the group’s legacy a sad twist.

Comparison to the WCW/ECW Invasion

It should be pointed out that the nWo’s invasion of WWE in 2002 was separate from the previous WCW/ECW Invasion of 2001. The WCW/ECW Invasion, which started not long after WWE had acquired WCW, involved a different group of wrestlers and also posed its own challenges.

The WCW/ECW Invasion angle, although much hyped, is commonly seen as a missed opportunity because of the lack of top WCW talent (including the members of the nWo) and poor booking choices. Conversely, the nWo’s 2002 invasion, although brief, did fulfill the potential of bringing the faction’s largest names to WWE.

Conclusion

The nWo Invasion in WWE was an important event in the history of wrestling, bringing the industry’s most powerful stable to the world’s largest professional wrestling promotion. Though it may not have met everyone’s standards, the nWo’s tenure in WWE offered some great moments, fantasy matchups, and a retro journey for those who lived through the Monday Night Wars era.

The nWo legacy stretches well past their WWE run, as indicated by their Hall of Fame induction and ongoing effects on wrestling storylines and stables to the present day. Their invasion of WWE is a reminder of how the group’s popularity has endured and the role they played in shaping the professional wrestling landscape of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

As Eric Bischoff, the mastermind behind the original nWo idea, pointed out, the stable was a “gamechanger” that WCW may not have been entirely ready for. The same can be said of WWE, as the company struggled to figure out how best to incorporate these legendary figures into their current system. Nevertheless, the nWo’s invasion of WWE is an interesting chapter in the group’s rich history and a testament to their lasting popularity in the realm of professional wrestling.